Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2013 | |||
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 8 | 144 | 153 |
Osprey | 0 | 21 | 22 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 29 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 6 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 9 | 82 | 90 |
Cooper's Hawk | 14 | 92 | 103 |
Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 3 | 26 | 26 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 84 | 218 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Golden Eagle | 1 | 6 | 9 |
American Kestrel | 7 | 92 | 114 |
Merlin | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 12 | 13 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 3 | 30 | 34 |
Unknown Buteo | 1 | 23 | 32 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Unknown Raptor | 2 | 12 | 15 |
Total: | 51 | 650 | 911 |
Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 6 hours |
Official Counter | Dave Hill |
Observers: | Cynthia Madsen, David Gulbenkian, Janet Shin, Jim Schmoker, Tom Dennehy |
Visitors:
Hikers 22 Bikers 20 Runners 5 Dogs 5 Paragliders 3
Weather:
Today's weather was just wonderful. Temps ranged from 54 degrees F. to 61, winds varied from the north to east at 0-10 mph and cloud cover did not exceed 15%.
Raptor Observations:
65 raptors were observed today. (51 migrants along with 14 locals) 11 Turkey Vulture 8 MIgrants, 3 Local Birds 2 Golden Eagle 1 Migrant, 1 Local bird 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 Migrants, 1 Local bird 17 Cooper's Hawk 14 Migrants, 3 Local birds 3 Accipiter sp. 3 Migrants 3 Broad-winged Hawk 3 Migrants 6 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Migrants, 3 Local birds 1 Buteo sp. 1 Migrant 9 American Kestrel 7 Migrants, 2 Local bird 2 Raptor sp. 2 Migrants 1 Prairie Falcon A local bird, probably from the Red Rocks Amphitheater area
Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swift 74 Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1 Northern Flicker 1 Western Scrub-Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 1 Common Raven 14 Tree Swallow 2 Mountain Chickadee 3 Bushtit 2 Rock Wren 1 Townsend's Solitaire 3 American Robin 2 Spotted Towhee 1 Western Meadowlark 1 Mule Deer on east side of ridge 9 Elk visible north of Cabrini shrine 5
Predictions:
Predictions are for another wonderful day, 5 degrees warmer and a stronger wind.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.birek@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
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